Forming the Resident Advisory Board
What is required?
The Resident Advisory Board (RAB) provides the PHA and the residents with a forum for sharing information about the Agency’s Annual Plan. Section 511 of the United States Housing Act and the regulations in 24 CFR part 903 require that PHAs establish one or more Resident Advisory Board(s) (RAB) as part of the PHA Plan process. RAB membership is comprised of individuals who reflect and represent the residents assisted by the PHA. The role of the RAB is to assist the PHA in developing the PHA Plan and in making any significant amendment or modification to the Plan.
What is the role of the RAB?
The main role of the RAB is to make recommendations in the development of the PHA Plan. In order to facilitate collaboration, PHAs should encourage the RAB?s participation from the inception of the planning process. PHAs are also required to request input from the RAB for any significant amendment or modification to the PHA Plan. The RAB is also the governing body of the Resident Associations at the different developments.
Who can participate on the RAB?
If a jurisdiction-wide resident council is in place that complies with tenant participation regulations at 24 CFR Part 964, the PHA must appoint this group or its representatives as the Resident Advisory Board. If the PHA does not have a jurisdiction-wide resident council, then it should appoint resident councils or their representatives to serve as one or more of the RABs. A PHA may require that the resident councils choose a limited number of representatives to serve as RAB members.
Where there are no resident councils that comply with the tenant participation regulations, then the PHA must appoint one or more RABs or board members as needed to adequately reflect and represent the residents assisted by the PHA. The PHA should give adequate notice of its intentions to the residents and encourage the residents to form resident councils that comply with the tenant participation regulations. PHAs have discretion in determining the method of appointment of RABs, as long as a PHA ensures that its RAB or RABs reflect and represent all the residents assisted by the PHA.
The Resident Advisory Board meets every 1st Thursday of the month at 10:00 am at the Buena Vida Community Center located at 1419 Tyler St.
